5® 


WopI^  of  Women  Phy sicians 


In  Asia, 


HV 

]V[ary  jf.^tiiisoii,  ]V[.  D., 

OF  NORRISTOWN,  PA., 


READ  BEFORE  THE 


AT  ITS  MEETING  IN 


Philadelphia,  1884. 


NORRISTOWN  : 

J.  H.  Brandt,  Book  & Jop,  Printer. 
1884. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/workofwomenphysi00stin_0 


In  the  brief  space  of  twenty  minutes,  we  can  note  in  the 
chain  of  events,  but  a link  here  and  there,  by  which  women 
physicians  were  drawn  into  the  work  in  Asia. 

We  find  a missionary  society  formed  in  1799,  to  assist  in  in- primitive  mie- 
creasing  an  interest  in  its  work  for  the  heathen,  and  in  raising 
money  for  the  same,  a woman’s  missionary  society  was  organ- 
ized in  1801.  With  the  same  object  “Cent  Societies”  among 
women,  were  active  until  1815,  when  Maternal  Associations 
were  established  throughout  the  churches  and  flourished  until 
about  1842.  The  missionary  society  of  1799  emerged  into  the 
“American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions.” 

Early  in  whose  history  it  began  its  efforts  to  reach  heathen 

women  through  the  labors  of  single  women.  In  1817,  two  First  women  mia- 

ITT  TT  ^ y siouary  teachers. 

ladies  were  teaching  among  the  Indians.  Between  that  date 
and  i860,  104  were  engaged  in  the  same  work,  and  36  were 
teaching  in  other  places. 

All  Christian  denominations  had  strong  convictions  of  duty  Formation  of  de- 
toward  the  heathen.  The  Baptist  Union  Missionary  Society  missionary 
was  organized  in  1815.  The  Presbyterian  Church,  in  order  to 
carry  on  and  extend  its  missions,  obtained  a charter  in  1837.  It 
had  previously  founded  two  missions  in  India  in  1834  and  1835. 

Another  in  1853. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  found  it  necessary,  to  enable  Appointment  0 f 
them  to  hold  property  and  do  business  legally,  to  seek  a charter,  aries. 
which  was  granted  in  1839.  They  sent  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Humphrey, 

M.  D.,  to  Kumaon,  India,  in  1857. 


4 


The  American  Reformed  Church  sent  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Scudder, 
M.  I).,  to  South  India  in  1855. 

The  Rev.  Edward  Chester,  M.  D.,  was  sent  by  the  congrega- 
tionalists  to  Madura,  India,  in  1859. 

In  order  to  increase  the  number  of  medical  missionaries  in 
the  socities  of  Great  Britain  “ A Medical  Missionary  Society” 
was  organized  in  1841  in  Edinburg,  under  the  supervision  of 
the  celebrated  physician  and  philosopher.  Dr.  Abercrombie.  ^ 

Begiuniugof  Our  finst  missionaries  were  ordained  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

They  took  their  wives  and  families,  located  stations  where  grew 
up  their  dwellings,  a place  to  preach,  a school  and  an  orphan  - 
age.  The  language  of  the  country  was  acquired  and  the  Scrip- 
tures translated  into  the  vernacular  of  the  country. 

Women  teachers.  Soon  it  was  felt  that  female  teachers  were  a necessity  and  self- 
sacrificing,  earnest  Christian  women  responded  to  the  appeals 
for  teachers. 


First  medical  col- 
lege for  women. 


March  the  nth,  1850,  there  was  chartered  in  Philadelphia 
“The  Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania”  with  a board 
of  corporators.  A faculty  was  organized,  52  students  matricu- 
lated and  the  first  class  of  8 women  graduated  as  physicians  in 
Dec.  30,  1851. 


First  ladies  med- 
i c a 1 missionary 
society. 


First  medical  mis- 
sionary students. 


In  November,  1851,  there  was  “A  Ladies’  Missionary 

Society  of  Philadelphia,”  formed  with  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Hale  as 
president.  But  few  persons  were  advanced  enough  to  compre- 
hend for  what  purpose  it  was  needed. 

In  1852,  Rev.  Dr.  Dwight  wrote  from  Constantinople,  “It  is 
my  present  belief  that  a well  taught  female  physician  in  this 
place,  would  find  access  to  the  families  of  all  classes  of  the 
people,  not  excepting  the  Mohammedans.” 

In  the  session  of  1853-54,  in  “The  Woman’s  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Pa.,”  under  the  auspices  of  “The  Ladies’  Medical  Mivs,- 
sionary  Society,”  were  two  women  studying  with  the  purpose  of 
becoming  medical  missionaries.  Emiline  Horton  and  Elizabeth 
Shattuck  were  the  first  women  who  had  decided  upon  medical 
missionary  work  in  Asia.  Providential  circumstances  prevented 
the  first  from  entering  that  work.  She  became  Mrs.  Dr.  Cleve- 
land and  the  first  resident  physician  of  “ The  Woman’s  Hos- 


5 


pital  at  Phila. established  in  i860.  The  first  hospital  in  the 
world,  equipped,  officered  and  managed  wholly  by  energetic, 
philanthropic  women.  Also  the  able  Professor  of  obstetrics  in 
“ The  Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Penna.”  and  the  .skillful 
practitioner  so  well  known  in  this  city.  Dr.  Shattuck  was  as  one 
born  out  of  due  time.  The  board  of  missions  of  her  church 
would  not  take  the  responsibility  of  sending  her,  not  yet  having 
realized  the  possibilities  in  the  work  of  a woman  medical  mis- 
sionary. For  an  account  of  her  career,  death  and  a tribute  to 
her  worth,  see  “The  College  Story,”  by  Prof.  Rachel  L.  Bod- 
ley,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Dean  of  “The  Woman’s  Medical  College.” 

American  women  beginning  to  comprehend  more  fully  the  women  stirred, 
misery,  degradation,  slavery  of  caste  and  idolatrous  practices, 
were  aroused  to  fresh  zeal  in  behalf  of  their  heathen  sisters,  and 
to  a special  interest  for  their  education,  which  led  to  the  forma- 
tion in  New  York  in  i860,  of  “ The  Woman’s  Union  Missionary 
Society  of  America  for  Heathen  Lands.” 

Among  the  teachers  sent  to  foreign  fields  was  Miss  Brittan,  Tcaciiers. 
who  after  a year  of  careful  inspection  and  study  of  the  situation 
in  Calcutta,  opened  fresh  Zenanas  and  commenced  work  in  1864 
under  the  name  of  “ The  American  Zenana  Mission.”  Her 
plan  and  work  were  most  admirable.  We  must  quote  her  in 
another  link. 

The  suppression  of  the  mutiny  of  the  Sepoys  in  1859,  the  Favorable  dr- 
transfer  of  the  government  from  the  East  India  Company  to  the 
direct  authority  of  the  British  Crown,  the  building  of  railroads, 
the  establishment  of  an  improved  school  system,  dispensaries 
and  hospitals  with  surgeons  and  staff  of  assistants,  all  tended  to 
assist  mission  operations. 

Coincidently  or  providentially  the  necessities  of  the  rebellion  Results.— Forma- 
m our  own  country,  caused  women  from  its  one  extreme  to  the  foreign  missions, 
other,  to  pass  through  scenes  and  trials  that  called  forth  their 
sympathy,  fortitude  and  endurance.  They  became  conscious  of 
their  power  to  relieve  distress,  to  comfort  the  sick,  the  cast  down 
and  the  sorrowing.  Thus  there  was  developed  an  ability  to  co- 
operate successfully  and  to  work  collectively.  Hence  when  peace 
was  restored,  women  were  prepared  to  engage  with  renewed 
energy  for  their  oppressed  sisters,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 


6 


They  aiso  felt  that  they  could  work  more  effectually  in  connec- 
tion with  their  several  denominational  boards  of  missions. 
Therefore  at  a meeting  of  the  ladies  of  the  Congregational 
churches  in  Boston,  January  ist,  i86g,  their  “ Woman’s  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions”  was  formed,  by  only  a few  women  full  of 
faith  and  zeal,  and  within  that  month  the  board  was  in  active 
operation.  By  the  3d  of  February,  $500  were  in  its  treasury 
and  their  first  woman  missionary  adopted. 

“The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church”  was  organized  in  1869  by  seven  women, 
whose  subsequent  work  seems  like  magic  as  now  the  membership 
is  90,000. 

Dr.  Nutting,  from  Turkey  in  Asia,  when  speaking  of  the 
women  of  that  country,  said,  “ I am  persuaded  that  in  no  way 
can  so  much  be  done  for  their  elevation  and  enlightenment,  as  by 
sending  out  among  them  well  educated,  devotedly  pious  female 
physicians.” 

“ The  Woman’s  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church”  was  incorporated  in  1870.  In  1871  “The 
Woman’s  Baptist  Foreign  Missionary  Society”  was  launched  for 
the  support  of  women  missionaries. 

Collection  of  These  societies  are  the  channels  through  which  the  collections 
monies.  money  by  the  various  agencies  throughout  the  length  and 

breadth  of  the  land,  are  gathered  for  the  support  of  the  entire 
work  of  women  missionaries. 

Medical  mis-  Medical  missions  are  auxilliaries,  whose  primary  object  is  the 
salvation  of  souls.  By  their  reputation  for  medical  and  surgical 
skill  they  draw  the  populace  after  them,  gain  their  confidence 
and  lead  them  to  say  one  to  another,  “ You  need  not  be  afraid 
of  these  missionaries.  They  are  your  friends  and  have  come  to 
do  you  good.”  Rev.  Mr.  Corbell  said,  “ Every  attempt  to  get 
hold  of  a new  city  failed  until  our  medical  missionaries  first  won 
the  confidence  of  the  people  by  healing  or  relieving  them  in 
cases  where  the  skill  of  the  native  physician  would  not  avail.” 
Rev.  E.  A.  Moule  attributed  his  success  largely  to  the  hospital 
work  under  the  care  of  his  associate.  Dr.  Galt. 

Women  medical  missionaries  are  sent  to  break  down  the 
hitherto  impenetrable  barrier  of  caste.  The  late  Dr.  Duff,  than 


7 


whom  none  better  knew  the  peculiar  condition  of  Hindoo  Dr.  Durs  esH- 
women  of  the  upper  classes,  when  speaking  of  females  having  a 
knowledge  of  the  science  and  practice  of  medicine,  said, 

“ Would  to  God  we  had  such  an  agency  ready  for  work  ! Soon 
would  India  be  moved  to  its  inmost  recesses.  ’ ’ 

There  are  two  distinct  systems  of  medicine  in  India.  The  Systems  of  medi- 
Yonani  or  Greek  is  practiced  by  all  the  Hindoo  doctors,  called 
Baids,  which  means  medical  science  or  philosophy.  They  are 
disciples  of  the  school  of  Hippocrates  who  taught  the  Greeks 
their  system,  long  before  the  Christian  era.  The  Yonani  has 
been  modified  by  the  older  Aryan  and  the  newer  Arabic,  intro- 
duced about  700  years  ago,  by  the  Mohammedan  conquest.  The 
Mohammedan  doctors  are  called  “ hakoom.”  “These  old  sys- 
tems, full  of  error  and  superstition,  live  and  thrive,  they  are 
fully  believed  and  wrought  into  the  domestic  life  of  the  people.” 

Women  medical  missionaries  have  to  contend  with  both  sys- Tobesurmount- 
tems  and  must  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  their  own,  and 
supreme  courage  to  practice  it  in  the  face  of  much  opposition. 

All  confess  that  the  English  doctor  has  marvelous  skill  in  surgery. 

It  is  in  this  that  the  lady  physician  will  find  her  widest  field  of 
usefulness  and  become  the  greatest  blessing  to  humanity. 

During  all  the  past  years  of  missions,  the  ordained  mission- On  preaching 
aries  carried  certain  medicines  when  on  their  circuits  preaching 
in  the  villages  and  outstations,  and  by  the  distribution  of  which 
they  greatly  increase  their  audiences.  Their  wives  had  miniature  women  uking 
apothecary  shops  and  were  obliged,  not  only  to  medicate  their  situation, 
own  family,  the  children  of  the  schools  and  orphanages,  but  to  give 
medicine  to  all  the  sick  who  applied  for  it.  Thus  these  mission 
wives  learned  the  wants  of  the  women  and  children  by  whom 
they  were  surrounded.  Also  that  these  ministrations  secured 
them  admission  where  even  their  teachers  could  not  gain  an 
entrance.  Consequently  they  were  the  first  to  feel  that  women 
physicians  were  a necessity  for  the  completion  of  the  missionary 
corps. 

Native  Christians,  English  speaking  government  officers,  mer-  Beginning  to 
chants  and  bankers  had  grown  somewhat  into  sympathy  with 
mission  proj  cts  as  evidenced  when  there  was  an  effort  made  to 
provide  a way  to  educate  native  women  in  medicine,  by  one  of 


8 


these  men  saying,  “it  would  open  the  doors  of  the  zenanas  as 

nothing  else  could.” “ Besides  this  you  would  save  thousands 

of  lives  that  are  now  sacrificed  through  the  ignorant  and  bad 
practice  of  native  doctors.” 

Appreciation.  Another  offered  to  bear  half  the  expense  of  educating  a class 
of  women  in  midwifery  and  medicine,  if  the  government  would 
grant  the  other  half.  Application  was  made.  The  government 
officer  was  in  favor  of  granting  the  funds,  but  “there  was  so 
much  opposition  by  medical  men,”  (native  and  English)  and  so 
much  inevitable  delay  that  the  gentleman  who  made  the  applica- 
tion withdrew  the  papers  and  became  responsible  himself  for  the 
Action,  requisite  amount.  A class  of  nine  women  (there  were  men 

also)  was  opened  May  ist,  1869  under  the  supervision  of  Rev.  ^ 
J.  S.  Humphrey,  M.  D.,  in  Nynee,  Tab  After  a two  years 
course  of  study  four  of  this  class  passed  a creditable  examina- 
Proof.  tion,  and  received  certificates  of  fitness  to  practice  “ ordinary 
surgery  and  medicine.”  Early  in  the  same  year  the  Macedonian 
Appeal  for  help,  cry,  “ Come  over  and  help  us”  was  heard,  in  an  urgent  appeal 
to  the  Philadelphia  branch  of  the  “ Woman’s  Union  Missionary 
Society  ” to  send  “ a full  fledged  woman  doctor  ” to  the  mission 
in  Bareilly,  India.  Here  some  girls  had  been  carefully  taught, 
hoping  that  they  might  have  an  opportunity  to  study  medicine. 
They  had  already  acquired  a fair  knowledge  of  the  English  lan- 
guage which  was  necessary  as  there  are  no  words  in  their  venac- 
ular  corresponding  to  technical  medical  terms. 

Candidate.  Dr.  Clara  Swain,  who  graduated  in  March,  1869,  in  “The 
Woman’s  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,”  was  recommended 
Adopted,  to  and  adopted  by  the  “The  Woman’s  Union  Foreign  Mission- 
ary Society.”  But  she  being  a member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  “The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  ” 
pTOper*s7M  church,  having  just  been  organized.  Dr.  Swain  was  trans- 

ferred to  its  care,  under  which  she  sailed  November  3rd,  1869, 
and  arrived  in  Bareilly,  India,  on  January  20th,  1870,  and  was  re- 
Cordiai  reception  ceived  with  luuch  joy  by  the  mission.  Prominent,  intelligent  gen- 
tlemen of  the  neighborhood  called  to  welcome  her.  One,  a native 
who  spoke  English  very  well,  said,  “ we  need  lady  physicians  in  In- 
dia very  much,  and  I have  often  spoken  of  it  to  my  friends,  but  we 
did  not  know  where  to  look  for  them,  and  as  our  women  are  un- 


9 


educated  they  could  not  study  medicine.  But  it  seems  the  peo- 
ple of  the  West  have  thought  of  us  and  helped  to  meet  our  neces- 
sity by  sending  you.  Light  has  again  dawned  from  America.” 

Ah  ! how  much  that  word  America  signifies  to  the  oppressed. 

Dr.  Swain  was  called  immediately  to  visit  women  and  children  Entrance  upon 
of  all  classes  in  the  community,  having  had  in  the  first  six  weeks 
after  her  arrival  io8  patients.  She  was  at  once  connected  with 
the  orphanage  and  on  March  the  ist,  1870,  commenced  teaching 
medicine  to  a class  of  16  girls  and  three  married  women.  They  ctoss  in  medicine 
studied  well,  and  13  of  this  class  on  April  the  loth,  1873, 
ceived  from  an  examining  board,  two  of  whom  were  civil  sur- 

° . . _ . Certificates 

geons,  “ certificates  of  practice  m all  ordinary  diseases.  granted. 

In  Dr.  Swain’s  finst  annual  report,  we  find  she  prescribed  at  First  year’s  work 
the  mission  house  for  1,225  patients.  In  the  houses  of  the  pa- 
tients, for  250.  And  she  said,  “ the  way  continues  to  open  to  our 
work.  We  have  been  called  to  16  different  zenanas.” 

Dispensary  and  hospital  conveniences  had  become  an  absolute 

necessity.  But  where  could  suitable  grounds  be  bought,  and 

could  the  society  at  home  furnish  the  necessary  means  ? were 

questions  that  caused  much  anxiety.  A Mohammedan,  Prince  a generoua 

Pi*inc6. 

of  Rampore,  forty  miles  distant,  owned  an  estate  of  42  acres, 
well  adapted  for  hospital  purposes,  adjoining  the  mission  prop- 
erty. But  as  he  had  been  decidedly  opposed  to  Christianity, 
they  had  no  hopes  that  it  could  be  purchased  at  any  price.  How- 
ever the  Commissioner  advised  the  missionaries  to  ask  his  High- 
ness upon  what  terms  the  property  could  be  bought  for  a hospi- 
tal for  women  and  children.  This  they  did  in  October  1871. 

To  their  astonishment  and  joy  the  Nawab  said,  “ Take  it,  take  ^ handsome  gift 

^ freely  given. 

it,  I give  it  to  you  with  pleasure  for  that  purpose.”  This  gift 
was  worth  at  least  $15,000.  A dispensary  building  was  ready 
for  use  by  May  the  loth,  1873,  ^.nd  the  hospital  completed  on 
January  the  ist,  1874,  at  a cost  of  $10,350,  all  of  which  was  fur- Dispensary  and 

hospital  cost. 

mshed  by  “ The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,”  except  $350  collected  in  India. 

Dr.  Swain  was  assisted  in  her  medical  work  by  some  of  those  Assistants, 
who  had  received  the  “ certificates”  and  by  native  medical  stu- 
dents. The  dispensary  cards  were  printed  in  Hindoo,  Persian 
and  Roman  Urdu  characters.  From  the  loth  of  May,  1873  to  in  of  a year. 


10 


Encouraging 

circumstances. 


the  31st  of  December  the  same  year,  1,600  patients  were  treated 
in  the  new  dispensary. 

Dr  Swain,  when  speaking  of  the  sick  in  the  zenanas,  said,  “my 
heart  is  encouraged  by  their  eagerness  to  hear  and  to  be  taught. 
They  beg  for  our  books  and  ask  us  to  come  every  day.”  Morn- 
ing prayer  to  their  false  Gods  and  idols  is  the  national  custom  of 
both  the  Hindoo  and  the  Mohammedan. 


During  1874,  50  new  families  called  for  professional  services 
and  all  desired  to  have  a teacher.  The  number  of  dispensary 
patients  exceeded  3,000,  with  150  out-door  patients. 

Dr.  Swain’s  reports  of  her  medical  work  read  like  fairy  tales. 

Conclusion  of  A friend  at  the  mission,  wrote,  “ The  Lord  has  had  the  matter  of 

those  who  had  ..... 

watched  the  women  medical  missions  in  His  own  hands  from  the  beginning.  ” 
“ Dr.  Swain  is  a grand  success.” 

An  example  of  This  minutia  of  the  first  four  years  work  of  a woman  medical 

the  work  of  w'o-  . . . , . ...  /•  i 

men  medical  mis- missionary.  Without  any  interest  of  incidents,  must  serve  for  the 

sionanes.  ^ork  of  all  following  women  medical  missionaries  in  India.  All 
had  similar  trials  and  successes,  but  not  to  the  same  extent.  No 
other  woman  physician  in  India  but  Dr.  Swain  has  taught  native 
women  students  in  medicine. 


Slow  growth.  If  time  permitted,  I should  like  to  tell  you  of  the  discussions 
in  the  conferences  of  the  missionaries  from  year  to  year,  so  that 
you  might  realize  how  slowly  even  some  of  these  men  grew  to 
know  the  importance  of  female  education  and  woman’s  medical 
missions. 

Not  until  1872  do  we  find  women  in  these  conferences  with 
papers.  But  in  the  conference  in  Allahabad  of  that  year  Mrs. 
Winters,  the  wife  of  a missionary  in  Delhi,  read  a paper  on  “ Fe- 
male Education,”  and  Miss  Brittan,  one  on  “ Zenana  Missions.” 
Mre.  Winters.  In  the  course  of  her  article,  Mrs.  Winters  said,  “ I would  venture 
to  urge  the  conference  not  to  discuss  the  question  of  missions  to 
women,  but  to  spend  the  time  thus  saved  in  silent  prayer  to  God 
for  money,  women  and  above  all,  love.”  “ I beg  the  conference 
with  one  voice  to  appeal  to  America,  Germany  and  England  for 
aid.”  “We  ask  for  the  flower  of  the  ladies’  colleges,  the  best 
nurses  from  the  hospitals.”  “We  ask  not  an  army  of  zenana 
teachers ; the  best  missionaries  I have  known  have  been  Euras- 
ians (Anglo-Indian)  and  natives.  Why  should  we  despise  the 


workers  God  has  put  ready  to  our  hands  ? W e want  from  home  a 
few  picked  women,  who  will  take  the  higher  subjects  and  train 
these  nurses  and  deepen  their  spiritual  life.”  “I  left  Bengal, 
after  a four  years  work,  with  an  intense  love  for  the  Bengali 
women  and  with  the  conviction  that  with  Christianity  they  would 
become  equal  to  the  best  cultivated  women  in  the  world.” 

Miss  Brittan,  in  closing  her  address,  said,  “ I believe  the  work  importance  of 

. . . . work  in  zenanas. 

among  the  women  of  India  to  be  the  most  important  mission 

work  in  India.  The  men  had  to  be  educated  up  to  a certain  point 

before  they  would  permit  their  women  to  be  taught,  but  now.  Miss  Brittan’s 

since  that  has  been  done,  they  are  anxious  to  bring  their  women  py^Rev' n/ Mur- 

up  to  themselves;  depressed,  debauched  and  degraded  as  woman 

is  here,  she  is  an  almighty  power  for  evil ; the  influence  of  the 

wife  is  little ; that  of  the  mother  unbounded,  and  as  long  as  that 

is  only  for  evil,  what  hope  can  there  be  for  the  youth  of  India  !” 

At  the  same  conference  in  1872,  there  were  read  two  papers  papers  on  medi- 
on  medical  missions  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Humphrey,  M.  D.,  and  siWri™!^" 
Colin  Valentine,  Esq.,  M.  D.  Female  doctors  were  discussed 
for  the  first  time  in  a conference  in  India.  In  answer  to  sup- 
posed impossibilities.  Dr.  Humphrey  said,  “It  has  been  de- Dr.  Humphrey’s 
monstrated  beyond  a doubt,  that  we  can  educate  the  women 
even,  and  when  educated  that  they  may  become  useful  and 
efficient  practitioners.”  . . “We  need  something  like  what 

is  required  at  home,  to  make  physicians  and  surgeons.” 

“ In  case  of  both  men  and  women.” 

Dr.  Valentine  said,  “When  I first  drew  up  this  scheme  for  Dr.  Valentine’s 
a medical  missionary  training  institution,  a few  years  ago,  there 
was  not  a single  female  medical  missionary  in  India.” 

“No  provision  was  made  for  female  .students,  now,  however, 
there  are  female  medical  missionaries  in  the  country,  with  a 
prospect  of  a large  accession  to  their  numbers,  I would  propo.se  to 
the  conference  that  the  opening  of  female  classes  form  part  of 
. our  scheme.” 

Eleven  years  after  this  proposition  of  Dr.  Valentine  we  find  Progress  in  pub- 
in  a Calcutta  newspaper,  the  India?i  Witness,  of  October  27, 

1883,  the  following  communication  : “As  there  is  a demand  for 
medical  zenana  workers  in  Northern  India,  it  may  prove  an 
item  of  interest  to  some,  that  government  has  opened  the 


I 2 

Agra  Medical  School  to  women.  A small  class  of  native  women 
are  now  in  attendance.  These  are  supplied  with  scholarships 
from  the  government ; and  under  certain  conditions  private 
female  students  may  have  access  to  all  the  lectures  and  after  a 
course  of  three  years  may  be  graduated.  It  should  also  be  known 
that  the  Agra  Medical  Mi.ssionary  Training  Institution,  organ- 
ized through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Dr.  Colin  Valentine,  proposes 
to  provide  scholarships  for  Native  students,  male  and  female, 
who  may  wish  to  pursue  a medical  course  in  Agra.  Further,  the 
Rev.  J.  M.  Reid,  D.  D.,  Secretary  to  the  Missionary  Society  of 
the  M.  E.  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  proposes  to  become  responsible  as 
far  as  necessary  for  Methodist  Native  students  of  either  sex,  who 
have  been  properly  recommended,  may  in  connection  with  this 
institution  come  to  Agra  to  attend  the  Medical  School.  We 
have  to  thank  Mr.  H.  Dear,  of  Monghyr,  and  other  gentlemen 
for  scholarships  supporting  several  lads  in  attendance  at  the  Med- 
ical School.  But  we  urgently  need  additional  funds  to  be  used 
as  scholarships  for  Native  Christian  students  of  either  sex  who 
may  wish  to  gain  a medical  education  and  for  whose  maintenance 
no  ])rovision  has  been  made.  The  new  year  in  the  Agra 
Medical  School  begins  on  the  first  of  June,  1884.  . . “It 
is  thought  that  scholarships  for  girls  should  be  ten  rupees  per 
month,  which  would  pay,  not  only  for  their  boots,  clothes  and 

A matron  still  food,  but  also  for  a matron  to  accompany  them  to  and  from  the 

necessary.  _ ^ ^ 

lectures.  Scholarships  for  the  boys  should  be  eight  rupees 
monthly.” 

stroiiK testinumy  Rev.  Dr.  Scudder,  M.  D.,  in  the  conference  of  1872,  said, 
“I  wish  to  add  my  testimony  to  the  great  value  of  medical 
missions  as  an  evangelizing  agency.  I come  from  a medical 
stock  and  therefore  feel  as  if  I had  a right  to  speak  in  the  mat- 
ter. My  father  labored  as  a missionary  physician  in  India  for 
35  years  and  bore  testimony  to  the  value  of  the  medical  work, 
ragarding  it  as  one  of  the  best  means  of  reaching  the  people. 
My  own  experience,  too,  extending  over  a period  of  17  years,  is 
to  the  same  effect.”  . . “I  should  like  to  say  just  a word 

about  this  new  movement,  the  introduction  of  medical  ladies 
into  missionary  work.  I am  very  glad  to  see  it,  and  at  the  same 
time  sorry  to  refer  to  the  matter  in  which  the  medical  students 
in  ‘ The  University  of  Penn.sylvania’  and  in  Edinburgh  dis- 


13 


graced  themselves  by  their  opposition  to  lady  students.  It  is 
gratifying  to  know  that  this  has  been  overthrown  and  that  the 
ladies  are  taking  the  place  they  deserve  to  occupy.  ” 

“ They  can  enter  into  families  where  male  physicians  are  for- 
bidden access.  I do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  latter  are  entirely 
excluded,  but  on  the  other  hand  there  are  many  cases  in  which 
native  women  would  rather  die  than  admit  a male  physician.” 

Since  i860  there  have  been  sent  to  India  1?  women  medical  dumber  of  wom- 

^ ^ en  medical  mis- 

missionaries  ; one  for  each  year  since  that  time : sionanes  who 

bavo  been  in 

By  The  Amer.  Bd.  of  Comrs.  for  For.  Miss.  (Conglts.),  - - 1 

“ “ Woman’s  Bd.  of  For.  Miss,  of  the  Pres.  Ch.,  - - - - l 

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ M.  E.  Ch.,  - - - 5 

“ “ “ Union  Miss.  Society,  -------  2 

“ “ Lutheran  Church, 1 

I have  received  replies  from  five  of  these  medical  missionaries 
to  inquiries  concerning  the  diseases  of  women  and  children. 

The  diseases  of  the  latter  seem  to  be  about  the  same  as  with  us,  children’s 

• • diseases 

but  of  a milder  type.  They  do  not  mention  scarlet  fever  or 
diphtheria,  but  eczema  is  much  more  common,  and  there  is 
some  leprosy  and  dengue  among  them.  Concerning  the  age  of 
puberty,  it  was  difficult  to  be  exact,  as  few  know  their  ages,  but  Puberty, 
nine  to  fourteen  years  were  the  extremes  mentioned.  Mothers 
of  thirteen  and  fourteen  years  were  common.  Their  children 
were  very  small,  but  appeared  healthy.  Infant  marriages  were 
deplored.  There  are  now  in  India  21,000,000  of  widows,  many  widows, 
of  whom  are  widows  by  the  death  of  the  boys  to  whom  they 
were  betrothed  in  early  childhood  and  were  never  married,  but 
they  have  to  live  under  all  the  abuse  and  cruelties  that  are  per- 
mitted to  be  heaped  upon  widows. 

Labor  was  considered  tedious  and  painful  as  a rule.  Two  re- Nature  ofiabor. 
ported  the  employment  of  midwives  to  be  so  universal  that  they 
had  not  been  called  to  such  cases. 

Rupture  of  perineum  was  very  frequent,  that  of  the  cervix  Diseases  of 
uteri  little  less  frequent.  Diseases  peculiar  to  women  were  of  the 
same  general  character  as  at  home,  but  aggravated  by  bad 
treatment  during  and  after  parturition  and  by  subsequent 
neglect. 

Neuroses  and  insanity  do  not  appear  to  be  very  common,  insanity. 
Puerperal  cases  had  been  seen.  Hard  work  and  an  undue  anxiety 


14 


Care  of  insane. 


London  school. 


Initiative. 


Success. 


Study  and  exam- 
ination. 


to  be  mothers  of  sons,  were  given  as  possible  reasons  thereof. 
The  birth  of  daughters  is  a dire  calamity. 

To  the  question,  “What  provision  is  made  for  the  care  of 
the  insane?”  came,  “Hospitals  are  provided.”  “The  pro- 
vision by  the  English  Government  is  very  primitive.”  “Govern- 
ment asylums  badly  kept.” 

Dr.  Anna  S.  Kugler,  late  assistant  physician  in  the  Woman’s 
Department  of  the  Southeastern  Hospital  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
had  been  only  a short  time  in  Guntoor,  India,  had  learned  of 
but  one  hospital  for  the  insane  in  Southern  India,  which  was 
located  in  Madras.  This  she  had  visited  and  was  much  pleased 
with  its  management,  and  where  they  were  having  excellent  re- 
sults from  the  open  door  system. 

In  1874,  we  should  note  two  events  : “ The  Medical  Prayer 
Union”  was  established  in  London;  which  in  1878  numbered 
220  doctors  and  medical  students  ; who  met  weekly  for  prayer 
and  the  study  of  the  Bible. 

Also,  when  the  University  of  Edinburgh  was  closed  to  women, 
the  remedy  was  sought  in  the  founding  of  “ The  London  School 
of  Medicine  for  Women,”  which  was  opened  in  October,  1874. 
Obstructionists  prevented  women  being  admitted  for  examina- 
tion by  the  various  medical  boards  until  1876,  when  an  act  to 
empower  all  medical  boards  to  admit  women,  became  law. 
“The  Irish  College  of  Physicians”  took  the  initiative  and 
within  the  last  seven  years  38  women  have  obtained  diplomas 
from  this  college. 

In  1878,  the  University  of  London,  after  a severe  contest 
among  its  members,  agreed  to  admit  women  to  its  medical  de- 
grees. This  led  ultimately  to  their  admission  to  all  the  faculties 
and  “it  is  understood  that,  when  certain  new  arrangements  are 
completed  between  the  Royal  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons of  England,  the  admission  of  women  to  their  examinations 
will  be  included  in  the  programme,  and  this  event  will  cer- 
tainly give  the  final  blow  to  the  policy  of  male  monopoly  in 
medicine.” 

The  course  of  study  and  of  examination  is  very  protracted  in 
the  University  of  London,  and  “ it  is  a very  great  satisfaction  to 
be  able  to  record  that  already  three  women  have  graduated  as 


15 


“M.  B.  Lond.”j  and  that  in  two  cases,  the  golden  medal  of  the 
University  has  been  awarded  to  a woman,  after  competition  with  Honors, 
all  the  students  of  the  year.”  . . “In  anatomy  to  Miss 

Helen  Prideau  in  i88i,  and  in  obstetrics  to  Mrs.  Scharlieb  in 
1882.” 

One  of  these  graduates  of  the  London  School  of  Medicine  for  Africa. 
Women,  Miss  Jane  E.  Waterson,  M.  D.,  is  the  first  woman 
medical  missionary  sent  into  Africa,  “that  garden  of  the  Lord 
in  the  wilderness,  where  the  worship  of  God  has  been  begun, 
schools  opened,  the  slave  trade  suppressed,  and  the  faith  of  the 
natives  won.” 

Four  of  these  graduates  are  practitioners  in  India:  Bombay,  Four  women 
Calcutta,  Lucknow,  and  Madras. 

A philanthropic  citizen  of  Bombay  has  collected  ^26,975,  Good  collector, 
and  has  the  promise  of  ^,^1 3,504,  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a 
hospital  for  women  and  children,  the  expenses  of  conducting 
the  same,  and  to  pay  the  salaries  of  one  or  two  lady  physicians. 

A large  and  influential  committee,  representing  every  section  of 

the  community,  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the 

object  in  view.  This  committee  have  invited  Dr.  Edith  Pechey,  Complimentary 

a graduate  of  Berne,  but  registered  in  London,  to  enter  upon 

practice  in  Bombay  and  to  take  charge  of  the  Hospital  for  Women 

and  Children,  “with  a liberal  salary  and  excellent  residence.” 

The  corner  stone  of  the  hospital  was  laid  with  great  eclat,  by 
H.  R.  H.,  the  Duke  of  Connaught. 

“While  a majority  of  the  Calcutta  Medical  College  consider 
that  the  requirements  of  the  country  point  rather  to  the  pro- 
vision of  educated  midwives  and  nurses  than  to  full-blown  lady 
doctors,  the  Government  of  Bengal  has  assumed  the  just  and  right, 
responsibility,  and  thrown  open  the  Medical  College  and 
Hospital  to  females.  One  young  lady,  a B.  A.  of  the  Calcutta 
University,  is  now  enrolled  as  a regular  student. 

“ In  Madras,  lady  students  were  admitted  to  the  Medical  Col- in  advance  of 
lege  in  1875  under  special  rules.”  One  of  these  ladies  was  Mrs. 

Scharlieb  who  obtained  the  “ M.  B.  Lond.”,  of  the  London 
University  and  its  gold  medal  in  1882.  It  is  now  proposed  to 
place  her  at  the  head  of  a hospital  for  women  and  children  in 
Madras. 


i6 


Liberal  and  wise.  Women  ill  India  have  obtained  liberty  and  encouragement 
to  qualify  themselves,  under  the  same  circumstances  and  advan- 
tages as  men,  for  the  practice  of  the  profession  of  medicine,  and 
the  State  is  prepared  to  sanction  their  doing  so.” 

General  interest  “The  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  M.  E. 

niauifested.  . ^ 

Church’  has  voted  to  raise  $25,000  for  the  establishment  of  the 
first  woman’s  periodical  in  India.  David  C.  Cook,  of  Chicago, 
has  given  a 32,200  Cottrell  steam  printing  press  to  the  Atnerican 
Mission  Press  in  India.  This  will  be  the  first  steam-printing 
machine,  except  those  of  the  government,  in  use  in  India. 

Knew  whereof  Sir  Johii  Lawrence  who  entered  the  lowest  class  of 

bespoke.  English  civil  service  in  India  in  1830,  and  rose  through 

all  its  gradations,  to  be  Viceroy  in  1863,  said,  “ I be- 
lieve, notwithstanding  all  that  the  English  people  have  done  to 
benefit  India,  the  missionaries  have  done  more  than  all  other 
agencies  combined.” 

BURMAH. 


Adaptability  of 
medical  mission^ 
aries  to  the  ^^ork 


Rev.  E.  P.  Dunlap,  of  Siam,  when  urging  an  increase  of  the 
number  of  medical  missionaries,  wrote,  “ even  while  the  heathen 
through  prejudice  stand  aloft  from  the  preacher,  they  will  seek 
the  physician  more  and  more  after  he  has  performed  some  of  those 
cures,  which,  to  them,  seem  almost  supernatural.” 


Medical  women  There  are  but  two  woman  medical  missionaries  in  all  British 
Burmah,  both  under  the  Woman’s  Baptist  Foreign  Missionary 
Society.  Mrs.  Dr.  Douglass,  in  Ragoon,  who  is  turning  her  med- 
ical work  to  good  account  as  a means  of  access  to  the  people. 
‘•Oh!  for  workers  among  the  Burmans.”  . . . “There 

is  an  eagerness  to  hear  the  living  word  among  the  dwellers  in  the 
jungles.  ’ ’ 


EfBcient  modical  In  Maulmain  Dr.  Ellen  E.  Mitchell  has  been  assisted  by  a 
a^stant.  nativ  e Christian,  Dr.  ShaAv  Loo,  who  has  greatly  relieved  her  in 
some  departments,  and  reached  families,  both  as  a physician  and 
as  an  evangelist,  in  a way  which  she  could  not.  Her  patients 
were  from  eight  different  nations,  or  tribes,  with  almost  every 
Diseases,  disease  that  could  be  mentioned,  though  fevers,  ophthalmia, 
coughs,  rheumatism,  diarrhoea,  dysentary  and  various  skin  dis- 
eases were  the  most  common  complaints.  Nearly  the  whole 


17 


work  has  been  gratuitous.  “ Medicine  has  done  much  towards 
opening  doors  otherwise  closed  to  us.” 

CHINA. 

The  portion  of  the  great  empire  of  China  into  v,diich  women  LocaUonof 
medical  missionaries  have  been  sent,  lies  along  the  Eastern  coast 
at  intervals  from  23°  to  41°  N.  Latitude.  Peking,  the  capital, 
being  40°;  and  in  but  10°  of  its  40°  of  longitude.  We  are  not 
aware  of  any  regular  system  of  medicine  in  China.  Medical 
knowledge  is  rather  an  heirloom. 

Knowledge  of  the  virtue  of  certain  remedies  is  handed  down  Jfo  system  of 

^ . , . . , , , . medicine. 

from  sire  to  son  and  maintained  a secret,  thus  producing  spe- 
cialists in  the  use  of  herbs,  skins  of  reptiles,  charms,  amulets, 
superstitious  and  idolatrous  practices.  Regular  medical  education 
is  unknown,  yet  every  scholarly  man  is  more  or  less  a physician. 

The  Chinese  know  nothing  of  hygiene.  Filth  and  vermin  en- 
compass them  as  with  a garment. 

The  London  Missionary  Society  sent  Robert  Morrison,  a prac-  Jiedicai  mission- 
ticing  physician,  to  China  in  1805.  In  1829,  Dr.  Colledge  wasadL^.^’^  ° 
stationed  in  Macao.  The  Scotchman  Dr.  James  Henderson’s 
medical  work  in  Shanghai,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  on 
record.  The  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions  appointed  the  Rev.  Peter  Parker,  M.  D.,  a medical  mis- 
sionary in  1834.  He  opened  an  ophthalmic  hospital  in  Canton, 
which  was  the  forerunner  of  all  subsequent  hospitals. 

In  1844,  the  Presbyterians  founded  a mission  in  Ningpoo  with  Twenty-eight 
Dr.  D.  Bethune  McCartee,  of  this  State,  as  medical  missionary,  cMua.*” 
who  remained  in  China  until  1872.  He  then  removed  to  Japan 
for  some  years  and  now  has  returned  to  this  country.  Dr.  McCar- 
tee informed  me,  that  he  had  never  heard  of  a case  of  scarlet  fever 
or  diphtheria  during  his  residence  in  China.  He  had  never  been 
called  to  more  than  four  or  five  obstetrical  cases  in  all  that  time. 

He  had  sent  preparations  of  ergot  in  cases  of  flooding  and  only 
prescribed  in  women’s  diseases  at  second  hand. 

Restraint,  “chains  and  cells  in  the  houses  of  relatives”  was  Treatment  of 
the  only  treatment  for  the  insane  he  had  ever  heard  of.  insane. 

The  mortality  of  parturient  women  was  large.  “ A female 
physician  would  of  course  have  a great  advantage  among  those  of 
her  own  se.x  in  China,  over  a male  physician.” 


i8 


AVomen  not  Another  Presbyterian  Mission  tvas  established  in  Canton  in 

reached.  o'^ 

1854,  With  Dr.  John  G.  Kerr  as  medical  missionary.  Owing  to 
the  peculiar  social  customs  of  the  Chinese  and  their  views  of  pro- 
priety, men  medical  missionaries  have  done  nothing,  compar- 

Commencement  atively  for  Suffering  women.  Woman’s  medical  work  was  begun 

ot  woman  8 med-  . . . ^ ® 

icaiwork.  Ill  Peking  in  1873  ^'7  Lucinda  S.  Combs,  sent  by  the  Phila- 
deli)hia  Branch  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  Dr.  Combs  prosecuted  her  work  in  the  midst 
of  great  difficulties,  but  with  much  success  in  winning  the  hearts 
of  the  Chinese  women.  During  the  first  year  she  prescribed  for 
314  cases  and  37  were  treated  in  their  own  homes.  In  closing 
her  report,  she  says,  “ I have  treated  with  general  success  a suf- 
ficient number  of  cases  to  make  me  feel  that  the  work  is  well  be- 
gun.” 

iiospitaHniiit.  A hospital  building  was  completed  in  1875,  by  which  time  she 
was  able  to  do  without  an  interpreter.  In  the  annual  report  of 

1876,  I find,  ” the  medical  work  in  charge  of  Dr.  Combs  is  emi- 
nently successful.  She  is  kept  exceedingly  busy  with  out-door, 
as  well  as  hospital  practice.”  ‘‘Many  would  have  been  dis- 
couraged by  the  difficulties  to  be  overcome  in  establishing  med- 
ical work,  but  Dr.  Combs’  love  of  her  profession,  her  untiring 

Medical  work  zeal  and  her  unwavering  faith”  . . ‘‘have  carried  her  tri- 

approved.  ° 

umphantly  through  the  pioneer  years  of  a medical  missionary.” 
‘‘  Medical  work  has  won  its  way  through  her  quick,  per- 
sistent methods  in  this  old  heathen  capital.”  . . ‘‘After 

nearly  five  years  of  efficient  service  she  moved  to  Kiu  Kiang.  ” 
Dr.  Combs  was  followed  by  Dr.  Leonora  Howard,  a graduate 
of  Micliigan  University.  She  took  charge  of  the  hospital  in  July, 

1877.  In  May,  1878,  Dr.  Howard  wrote,  ‘‘from  July,  1877,  to 
March,  1878,  during  these  months,  dispensary  patients  numbered 
1612,  out-door  patients  50,  and  ten  have  occupied  the  wards.” 

‘‘Among  the  out-jratients  I have  found  many  in  a very 
destitute  condition,  having  neither  food,  fire  nor  clothing.” 
‘‘The  people  invariably  treat  me  with  respect  and  seem 
grateful  for  the  smallest  favors.”  . . ‘‘About  this  time,  fam- 

ine prevailed  throughout  North  China,  when  many  thousand 
natives  died,  pestilence  followed.”  . . ‘‘A  number  of  mis- 

sionaries were  seized  with  the  malignant  fevers  and  died.”  Dr. 
Howard  wrote,  ‘‘  There  has  been  a great  deal  of  sickness  among 


Dr  Combs’  suc- 
cessor. 


Trying  cir- 
cumstances. 


19 


the  missionaries,  and  for  a time  I was  the  only  physician  in 
Peking.  I did  not  fear  the  contagion,  though  it  was  terrible. 

We  could  hardly  go  on  the  streets  without  seeing  the  dead  and 
dying  lying  just  where  they  happened  to  fall.”  . . “The 

last  three  months  have  brought  sad  days  to  the  North  China  mis- 
sion.” The  report  said,  “Dr.  Howard’s  courage  never  failed 
her  in  all  these  days  of  trial  when  death  was  on  every  side,  but 
her  physical  powers  were  greatly  taxed.”  She  reported  “ 2,015 
day-patients,  80  out-door  patients,  and  18  having  occupied  the 
wards  for  the  entire  year.” 

In  the  Fall  of  1878  medical  work  was  suspended  in  Peking,  by  No  woman  m.d. 
Dr.  Howard  being  called  to  Tientsin,  the  seaport  of  the  province  piaci*°  ™ 

80  miles  distant  by  land  and  120  miles  by  water. 

The  way  for  this  change  was  brought  about  by  providential  change  of 
circumstances  beyond  her  control.  When  Gen.  Grant  and  his 
party  were  visiting  in  Tientsin,  in  June,  1878,  they  were  enter- 
tained several  times  by  the  Viceroy,  Li  Hung  Chang,  the  Gov- 
ernor-General of  the  province,  next  in  authority  to  the  Emperor 
and  the  leading  statesman  in  the  Empire.  His  wife.  Lady  Li, 
gave  an  evening  entertainment  to  the  wives  of  the  resident  offi- 
cials. A lady  of  the  mission  accompanied  Mrs.  Grant  as  inter- 
preter. When  a few  weeks  later  Lady  Li  was  very  ill,  and  given 
up  to  die  by  the  native  doctors.  The  Viceroy,  being  in  sore  dis-  influence  of  por- 
tress at  the  prospect  of  loosing  his  wife,  in  opposition  to  the  pre-  association, 
judices  and  principles  of  the  Chinese,  yielded  to  the  persuasions 
of  the  United  States  Consul  (who  was  the  private  secretary  of  the 
Viceroy,)  and  sent  for  the  foreign  physician  ot  the  city  and  the 
medical  missionary  of  the  London  Missionary  Society.  These 
carried  Lady  Li  safely  through  the  immediate  peril,  but  they,  as 
men  physicians,  could  not  diagnose  the  case  of  a lady  patient. 

Both  doctors  united  in  petitioning  the  Viceroy  to  send  for  Dr. 

Howard,  and  the  possibility  of  saving  his  wife’s  life,  enabled  him  Supremacy 
to  set  at  naught  all  Chinese  ceremonies.  A courier  was  dispatch- 
ed with  a request  to  Dr.  Howard  to  come  ; and  a steam  launch 
sent  to  meet  her  to  hasten  her  arrival.  Happily  the  disease  of 
Lady  Li  yielded  to  the  medication  of  Dr.  Howard,  and  soon 
Lady  Li  learned  not  only  to  appreciate  Dr.  Howard’s  medical  Gnatitmte. 
skill,  but  to  feel  for  her  a tender  regard.  Strong  inducements 


20 


Medical  work  in 
the  commercial 
capital. 


Change  of 
custom. 


were  held  out  to  j)ersuade  Dr.  Howard  to  remain  at  Tientsin. 
Apartments  were  fitted  up  in  one  of  the  temples  of  the  city  for  a 
dispensary  by  the  Viceroy,  and  Lady  Li  became  responsible  for 
its  support. 

Dr.  Howard’s  associate  wrote,  “ We  Jcnow  not  how  much  this 
is  for  China,  but  it  looks  like  a big  wedge  in  very  near  the 
throne.”  , 

Dr.  Howard  wrote,  March  21,  1879,  commenced  work  in 
the  dispensary  about  the  middle  of  October,  1878.  Up  to  the 
present  time  I have  treated  810  patients  in  the  Temple  and  vis- 
ited 120  patients  in  their  homes. ” . . “I  live  about  three 

miles  from  the  temple,  in  the  foreign  settlement  where  I have 
treated  over  1,000  patients  and  have  visited  17  patients  in  their 
houses.  We  consider  this  the  most  important  part  of  our  work.” 
“ I am  called  to  the  houses  of  the  highest  officials  ; their 
prejudices  are  breaking  down  everywhere  over  the  land.”  . . 

“ Patients  come  from  the  interior  and  take  up  their  residence 
near  the  temple,  that  they  may  be  treated.” 
strong  testimony  Rev.  H.  H.  Lowery  wrote,  “The  importance  of  the  present 
opening  can  scarcely  be  overestimated.  Dr.  Howard’s  attend- 
ance u])on  the  Viceroy’s  wife,  has  made  an  opportunity  such  as 
never  occurred  in  China  before,  and  if  lost  now,  may  never 
occur  again.  The  homes  of  many  of  the  best  and  most  influen- 
tial of  the  City  are  open  to  the  visits  of  your  physician.” 

Dr.  Aker  was  sent  to  Dr.  Howard’s  assistance  in  1882.  In 
the  annual  report  for  1883  was  found  the  following  numbers: 

Of  patients  in  wards  - - - - 

“ out-door  patients  . - - 

“ Mission  dispensary  - - - - 

Prescriptions  given  - - - - 

FOOCHOW. 

In  October  1874,  Dr.  Sigourney  Trask,  of  Spring  Creek, 
Penna.,  a graduate  of  the  ‘‘Woman’s  Medical  College  of  the 
New  York  Infirmary,”  was  sent  to  Foochow  by  the  New  York 
Branch  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  M. 
E.  Church.  The  number  of  patients  treated  the  first  year  was 
A greatflnauciai  584,  and  38  surgical  operations.  In  April,  1877,  acommodious, 

pushed!*^”"'  well  arranged  hospital  was  ready  for  use.  The  first  patient  reg- 

Surgicai  cases,  istered  in  it  was  a woman  of  28  years,  who  had  not  walked  erect 


92 

- 903 

8,337 
29,057 


2 I 

for  5 years  on  account  of  an  injury  to  her  knee.  This  resulted 
in  anchylosis  with  flexion  at  nearly  a right  angle.  Dr.  Trask 
made  a resection,  the  limb  was  straightened,  a good  recovery 
made  and  in  three  months  the  woman  returned  to  her  home,  6o 
miles  from  Foochow. 

A little  girl  of  15  years,  had  both  legs  amputated  below  the 
knees  successfully.  The  mother  of  this  girl’s  betrothed  husband 
was  greatly  disturbed  by  her  recovery. 

A pretty,  bright  young  woman  with  bound  feet,  having  a ter- 
ribly ulcerated  leg,  was  improving  so  that  Dr.  Trask  hoped  am- 
putation would  not  be  necessary. 

A large  tumor  having  been  removed  from  the  back  of  a woman 
her  husband  said,  “I  had  made  offerings  to  many  Gods,  but  all 
to  no  good  to  my  wife.” 

Concerning  another  who  had  her  right  arm  amputated.  Dr. 

Trask  said,  “ I have  but  little  hope  for  her.”  . . “ I do  not 

think  her  friends  will  mourn  very  much,  but  rather  rejoice.” 

In  1878  Dr.  Trask  wrote,  ” We  have  had  almost  20,000  deaths  Epidemic  of 
of  natives  here  in  two  weeks  from  cholera.  It  is  a most  malig- 
nant  type.”  . . “ During  the  last  quarter,  I had  267  dispen- 

sary patients  and  over  500  prescriptions  have  been  made.”  The 
whole  number  of  out-patients  registered  since' 1877  is  1,208. 

Number  of  patients  admitted  into  the  wards  of  the  hospital  was 
78. 

In  1878,  Dr.  Julia  A Sparr,  a graduate  of  Michigan  Univer- 
sity, was  sent  to  reinforce  Dr.  Trask.  Seven  years  ago  Dr.  Trask  Native  women 
received  under  instruction  the  first  female  medical  student  in 
Foochow — the  first  ever  in  China.  Since  then  five  others  have 
been  received, — six  now  being  under  instruction.  Letters  have 
been  received  by  the  society,  asking  that  at  least  one  of  these, 

Hu  Keng  Eng,  of  whose  ability,  aspirations  and  devotion.  Dr. 

Trask  speaks  of  in  the  highest  terms,  should  be  brought  to  this 
country  to  remain  ten  years,  if  necessary,  in  order  that  she  may 
go  back  (lualified  to  lift  the  womanhood  of  China  to  a higher 

® ^ ^ She  has  arrived 

plane,  and  there  to  superintend  our  medical  work;  and  this  is  to  take  a 

4 years  collegi- 

young  Student  herself  sends  an  earnest  petition  to  be  brought  to  ate  course  before 

. 1 r • 1 r • • '1 1 commenciug  the 

America.  “Shades  of  conservatism  and  Confucianism  ! avaunt,  stmiyofmedicine 


22 


Dr.  Catharine  Corey  was  added  to  the  medical  staff  in  Foo- 
chow in  1883. 

In  the  annual  report  of  the  mission  for  1883,  I learn  woman’s 
medical  work  grows  steadily  in  interest  and  favor  in  Foochow, 
as  seen  in  the  following  table : 

Surgical 


Hospital  Dispensary 

Patients. 

1,051 

Operations. 

66 

Deaths. 

East  Street  ' “ 

- 1,644 

1.34 

— 

Bedside  - - - - 

- - 262 

60 

— 

House 

58 

26 

2 

3,015 

286 

2 

Keportofayear’s  We  gather  from  the  annual  report  of  1883  of  the  Presbyterian 

work  in  a station  ° ...  . ^ 

established  30  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  that  in  Canton  “ another  hopeful 
feature  here,  is  that  it  is  reaching  the  women.”  . . “Three 

women  from  the  school  have  commenced  Christian  work,  and  one 
has  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine.”  . . “ The  hospital 

work  under  Dr.  John  G.  Kerr,  has  been  greatly  prospered.  He 
has  had  19,199  out-patients,  1,132  in-patients  and  has  perform- 
ed 963  surgical  operations.  During  a part  of  the  year.  Miss  Mary 
E.  Niles,  M.  D.,  of  the  Nanking  mission,  was  under  his  special 
instruction.  Miss  Butler  is  studying  medicine  and  several  natives 
also  have  formed  a class.  ’ ’ 

You  will  remember  Dr.  Kerr  went  to  Canton  in  1854. 
Almost  a generation  had  passed  before  “ reaching  the  women.” 
We  are  happy  to  know  that  the  men  medical  missionaries  have 
welcomed  cordially  the  women  physicians  to  their  stations.  But 
I have  not  noticed  any  other  doctor  than  Dr.  Kerr  taking  a 
newly  arrived  woman  medical  missionary  under  his  “ special  in- 
struction.” 

Infanticide.  We  learned  upon  inquiry  of  a member  of  the  Baptist  mission 
in  Swatow,  (Miss  AdeleM.  Fielde)  nearly  in  the  same  latitude  but 
a little  East  of  Canton,  as  to  the  frequency  of  infanticide ; that 
she  had  known  : 

100  mothers  who  had  destroyed  1.58  female  children,  other. 

4Q  u u u ((  ((  a (( 

u u u ((  21 

Modes  of  death.  When  the  mother  does  not  strangle  or  smother  her  child  by 
holding  a cloth  over  its  face,  or  by  filling  its  nostrils  and  mouth 
with  cotton,  saturated  with  incense,  the  child  is  wrapped  in  mat- 


23 


ting  and  carried  by  the  the  father  and  thrown  into  the  river,  or 
into  the  little  window  of  a walled  pit  prepared  for  the  reception 
of  female  children,  where  lime  is  thrown  over  them.  No  one 
asks  how  the  child  came  to  its  death.  Boys  are  never  destroyed. 

“A  husband  reviles  or  hates  his  wife  if  she  does  not  bear  sons, 
and  may  be  legally  divorced. 

Dr.  Caroline  Daniels,  was  sent  to  Swatow  in  1879  ^^7  “The 
Woman’s  Baptist  Foreign  Missionary  Society  and  is  laying  the 
foundation  for  woman’s  medical  work. 

Dr.  Virginia  C.  Murdock,  a graduate  of  Michigan  University, 
under  the  auspices  of  “The  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
for  Foreign  Missions’’  in  Kalgan,  on  the  mountains,  answered 
my  questions  fully,  but  her  letter  was  received  too  late  to  allow 
of  but  a few  quotations.  She  says  infanticide  “ is  not  practiced 
to  any  extent.’’  . . “The  death  of  sons  is  a sore  affliction,  how differently 

that  of  daughters  a good  riddance.  Small-pox  is  considered  a two  sex^are** 
regular  disease  of  childhood.  A son  who  has  not  been  vaccinated 
is  not  counted  as  having  a lease  of  life  that  can  be  depended  on. 

None  would  think  of  having  a girl  vaccinated.  If  a cherished 

son  is  sick,  a doctor  is  called,  but  with  girls,  it  is  the  “survival  of 

the  fittest.’’  Cholera-infantum  is  very  frequent  and  fatal.  If  a 

mother  cannot  nurse  her  child,  a wet  nurse  is  hired.  No  other 

way  to  raise  children  is  attempted.  People  do  not  seem  to  have 

the  patience  to  care  for  their  sick  babies.  Burial  of  the  dead  is  Modes  of  dispos- 

general,  but  dead  female  children  are  often  wrapped  in  a mat  and " e ea  . 

thrown  into  the  street  at  night  so  that  dogs  may  tear  them  to 

pieces,  hoping  that  thus  their  little  spirits  will  be  liberated  and 

come  back  to  the  parents  as  sons.’’ 

Chinese  midwives  are  quite  efficient  ordinarily,  but  in  unusual  obstetrical 
presentations  and  flooding  their  arts  are  at  an  end.  Forceps  are 
not  permitted  to  be  used  in  that  locality.  Dr.  Murdock  had 
been  called  in  cases  of  post-partem  hemorrhage,  in  one  of  which 
she  found  the  woman  fainting,  but  held  up  by  the  hair  of  the 
head,  it  being  dragged  upwards  by  the  husband  and  brother  tak- 
ing turns  as  they  became  fatigued.  No  advice  or  inducement 
could  make  them  let  go  of  her  hair  and  allow  her  to  lie  down  for 
an  hour  or  two.  She  lived  through  it,  but  as  they  thought,  only 
because  they  adhered  to  their  well-known  theories. 


A lying-m  woman  mu.-,t  not  leave  the  liotise  for  forty  days  after 
her  delivery,  and  must  live  on  slop  food  all  that  time.  Amenor- 
rhoea  was  the  most  frequent  disturbance  of  the  menstrual  faction. 
General  diseases.  Coughs,  bronchial  and  asthmatic  with  shortness  of  breath  very 
frequent.  Dyspepsia  is  universal.  “Worms!  worms!  to  be 
treated  for  round  worms  is  everybody’s  fate.”  Skin  diseases  and 
ulcers  of  various  sorts  are  common.  Rheumatism,  acute  and 
chronic,  is  not  as  frequent  as  might  be  expected,  as  the  natives 
wear  cotton  hose  and  cotton  shoes  the  whole  year,  and  as  their 
houses  have  brick  floors. 

In  the  Annual  Report  of  the  W.  U.  M.  S.  for  1883  1 found 
among  their  “noteworthy”  events,  the  opening  of  their  medical 
work  in  China,  in  their  established  mission  in  Shanghai,  by  the 
Dr. Reifsnydei’e  arrival  there  on  Sept,  i,  1883,  of  Dr.  Elizabeth  Reifsnyder,  a 
graduate  of  the  Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania,  who, 
in  addition  to  the  regular  instruction  and  practice  in  the  Woman’s 
Hospital  in  Philadelphia,  had,  by  a residence  of  some  months  in 
the  women’s  department  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  of  the 
Southeastern  District  of  Pennsylvania,  also  an  opportunity  of 
.studying  the  varying  conditions  and  phases  of  insanity  and 
their  treatment. 

Medical  mis-  Dr.  Boone  had  invited  Dr.  Reifsnyder  to  visit  his  Hos])ital. 
sionary.  accepted  the  invitation  gladly,  and  had  already  seen  him 

perform  several  operations.  She  hoped  to  spend  a short  time 
each  week  in  Dr.  Boone’s  Hospital  and  thus  gain  a knowledge  of 
some  of  the  diseases  with  which  she  would  have  to  contend.  She 
would  at  the  same  time  make  acquaintances  among  the  Chinese. 

Trained  nurse.  Dr.  Reifsnyder  was  accompanied  by  a graduated,  trained  nurse. 

,\nother  first  step  forward  in  the  right  direction.  I understand 
each  woman  physician  now  under  appointment  as  a medical  mis- 
sionarv  is  seeking  a congenial  trained  nurse  to  accompany  her 
and  to  assist  in  the  medical  work. 

Gifts.  Another  most  “ noteworthy”  event  was  the  gift  of  $5,000  by 
Mrs.  Margaret  Williamson  to  build  a hos])ital  in  connection  with 
this  Mission. 

Endowments.  A secoiid  gift  of  $1,000  to  ciidow  the  first  beds  in  the  hospital 
to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  generous  giver,  “Julia  Cum- 
mings Jones.”  d'he  giving  of  $ioo  on  the  price  of  the  land  for 


the  site,  by  Mrs.  Wae,  an  influential  Chinese  lady  from  whom  it 
was  purchased  ; who,  also  volunteered  to  solicit  subscriptions 
among  the  Chinese  for  the  hospital,  .\mong  the  larger  annual 
donations  by  different  ladies  I noticed  the  sums  of  S136,  $234.50 
and  $500. 

In  the  Report  for  1882  of  the  W.  U.  M.  S.  I find  a legacy  of  ugades. 
$40,000,  bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Jennie  McGraw  Fiske,  of  Ithaca, 

N.  Y.,  $20,000  of  which  was  to  be  kept  in  trust,  the  income  of 
which  was  to  be  given  equally  to  India  and  Japan.  The  other 
$20,000  to  be  used  where  and  whenever  most  needed.  Also  a be- 
quest of  $200  by  Mrs.  Mary  Hopkins,  of  Fairfield,  Conn.  •“  Every 
penny  of  this  money  (Mrs.  Hopkins’)  had  been  consecrated  by 
earnest  prayer  for  the  welfare  of  the  W.  FF  M.  S.” 

Women  with  large  estates  in  this  country  have  bequeathed  Proper  thing 
munificent  sums  to  institutions  for  the  benefit  of  men  and  I note 
such  beginnings  of  legacies  as  have  been  received  by  the  W.  U. 

M.  S.  to  draw  the  attention  of  other  women  to  these  societies  as 
worthy  to  receive  similar  bequests. 

k'orty  w'omen  medical  missionaries  have  graduated  as  fol- 


1 ows  : 

In  the  Woman's  Medical  College  of  Chicago  -----  0 

“ Michigan  Univei-sity 

“ Woman's  Medical  College  of  the  Xew  York  Infirmary  - - (i 

“ Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania  - - - - 20 

“ Medical  College  of  Cleveland  Ohio  -----  i 
Homeopathic  ---------  - 


The  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  1\I.  E.  fHi.  have  sent  to  India  7,  to  China  10,  to 
Japan  2. 

The  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  Presby.  Ch.  have  sent  to  India  2,  to  ('hina 

“ “ “ “ “ “ Lutheran  “ “ ••  “ 1 . 

“ “ “ “ “ “ Baptist  Ch.  “ “ “ Burmah  2,  " 1. 

Am.  Bd.  of  Commrs.  for  F.  M.  “ “ “ India  2,  ••  2. 

Turkey  1. 

The  W.  U.  M.  S.  of  America  for  Heathen  I.ands  have  sent  to  India  2, 
China  1. 

There  are  8 graduates  of  the  Woman’s  Medical  College  of 
Pennsylvania  under  apointment  : 

One  for  Damascus  by  the  Episcopal  Church. 

Five  for  China  : 1 by  the  Episcopal  Board,  1 by  the  Methodist  Chinch  South 
1 by  the  Baptist  Church  South,  and  2 i>y  the  Presbyterian  Board. 
One  not  determined  whether  India  or  China,  and  1 not  determined  wheth- 
er Burmah  or  China. 

There  are  8 under-graduate  misssonarv  sttidents  in  the  class  in 
the  Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Pennsvlvania. 


26 


As  business  men  judge  of  the  plausibility  of  a projected  scheme 
by  the  amount  of  money  that  can  be  raised  for  its  advancement, 
I thought  it  might  be  satisfactory  to  know  what  amount  these 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  have  collected  during 
1882-83.  I have  had  access  to  the  treasurer’s  report  of  but  four 
societies,  from  which  I copy  the  following  : 

Woman’s  Union  Miss.  Society  for  Heathen  Lands  for  1882-83,  $ 53,831.50 
“ Baptist  Foreign  Missionary  Society  “ “ 59,670.21 

“ Foreign  Miss.  Society  of  the  Presby.  Ch.  “ “ 125,186.40 

“ “ “ » » M.  E.  “ “ “ 126,823.33 

Amount  of  appropriations  of  the  M.  E.  Ch.  for  1883-84,  167,037.50 

Amt.  received  from  all  the  W.  S.  of  the  Presby.  Ch.  for  1882-83,  192,729.33 

A few  days  after  “Work  of  Women  Physicians  in  Asia” 
had  been  read  in  the  State  Medical  Society  meeting  the  Rev. 
b".  F.  Ellinwood,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  when  addressing 
the  General  Assembly  of  1884,  said,  “we  thank  the  women  of  the 
church  who  have  contributed  through  their  societies  (during  the 
past  year)  over  ^200,000,  and  who,  in  individual  gifts  have 
added  not  less  than  $50,000  more.” 


Prefatory  and  Siippletory 


When  its  was  suggested  by  an  honored  member^  of  this 
State  Medical  Society,  that  the  writer  prepare  a paper  on  the 
“ Work  of  Women  Physicians  in  Asia,”  she  sent  the  following 
request  and  questions  to  all  the  Women  Medical  Missionaries 
whose  addresses  she  then  had  : 

Dear  Doctor  : 

Having  been  requested  to  prepare  a paper  on  “ The  Work  of  Women 
Physicians  in  Asia,”  to  be  read  in  the  meeting  of  the  State  Medical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania,  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  in  May,  1884, 1 feel  obliged  to 
ask  you  ladies  in  this  work  to  give  me  something  of  your  experience  as 
medical  practitioners,  with  your  clinical  observations  of  the  peculiarities  of 
these  patients,  their  special  diseases  and  of  the  actions  of  medicines  upon 
them.  Also  of  their  superstitions,  and  the  obstacles  that  oppose  your  en- 
trance into  the  homes  of  women. 

Permit  me  to  propose  the  following  questions  : 

1.  What  of  the  children  and  their  maladies  ? 

2.  About  what  age  does  puberty  occur  ? 

3.  What  is  the  character  of  Labor  in  women  of  Asia? 

4.  How'  often  have  you  found  laceration  of  the  perineum?  and  cervix- 

uteri  ? 

-5.  Are  the  diseases  of  the  reproductive  organs  of  women  of  the  same  char- 
acter and  frequency  as  in  the  United  States  ? 

6.  What  of  nervous  disturbances  : is  insanity  common  ? 

7.  What  is  its  most  prolific  cause  ? 

8.  What  provision  is  made  for  the  care  of  the  insane  ? 
y.  What  disease  have  you  most  frequently  to  combat  ? 

10.  By  whom  are  you  most  valued  and  best  compensated  ? 

11.  What  impression  does  your  position  and  work  make  upon  the  com- 

munity generally. 

b'rom  five  (5)  of  these  in  India  she  received  more  or  less  full 
replies.  From  two  (2)  in  China  very  full  answers,  but  too  late 
except  to  make  a few  quotations  from  Dr.  Virginia  C.  Murdock’s. 

*Dr.  IliraiH  (!oi*sou. 


2 


Dr.  Mary  A.  Holbrook’s  was  not  received  until  after  the  paper 
had  been  read.  Dr.  Trask  acknowledged  the  reception  of  the 
questions,  but  knew  there  was  not  time  lor  the  transmission  of 
replies  before  the  date  for  reading  the  article. 

She  is  indebted  to  the  above  and  the  Report  of  the  “ General 
Missionary  Conference  held  in  Allahabad,  India,  in  1872-73;” 
to  “ Protestant  Missions,”  by  Dr.  Christlieb,  of  Boon  University, 
Germany;  to  “ Woman’s  Medical  Work  in  Foreign  Lands,”  by 
Mrs.  J.  F.  Gracey ; to  “The  Report  for  1883,”  and  the 
“ Retrospect  of  the  last  seven  years  of  the  National  Association 
(of  Great  Britain)  for  Promoting  the  Medical  Education  of  Wom- 
en,” by  its  Hon.  Treas.  Dr.  Sophia  Jex  Blake ; to  the  Annual 
Reports  of  the  several  Denominational  Boards  of  Missions  and 
to  the  different  Secretaries  of  the  different  W.  F.  M.  Societies  for 
the  facts  embodied  in  the  “ Work  of  Women  Physicians  in  Asia,” 
and  to  all  of  whom,  for  the  kindness  rendered  she  returns  her 
hearty  thanks. 

The  accompanying  table  contains  the  names  of  the  Women 
Medical  Missionaries,  the  medical  school  in  which  each  gradu- 
ated, the  date  of  their  appointment,  by  what  .society  adopted,  to 
what  station  sent,  by  whom  supported,  and  the^former  residence 
of  each.  It  will  be  seen  that  these  are  under  nine  distinct  mis- 
sion boards.  There  may  be  other  denominations  who  have 
Women  Medical  Missionaries,  but  the  writer  has  no  knowledge 
of  their  whereabouts. 

Several  Women  Medical  Missionaries,  by  marriage  have  sev- 
ered their  connection  with  the  Woman  Societies.  Those  who 
married  Rev.  Missionaries  and  continued  in  medical  work  are 
supported  by  the  “ Parent  Society.” 

It  may  be  interesting  to  some  not  familiar  with  the  manage- 
ment of  these  Woman  Boards  of  Foreign  Missions  to  know  that 
they  furnish  “ an  outfit  ” sufficient  to  cover  all  the  expenses  of 
the  Missionaries  until  they  are  located  in  the  Mission  Station  to 
which  each  has  been  appointed  ; thereafter  the  Medical  Mission- 
ary receives  a salary  the  same  in  amount  as  the  principal  teachers. 
All  under  the  W.  Baptist  F.  M.  S.  receive  $500  per  annum. 
Those  under  the  M’.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  M.  E.  Church  receive  $600 


3 


per  annum.  (These  were  the  only  societies  in  whose  reports  the 
expenses  were  itemized  so  that  the  salary  of  each  employe'  could 
be  learned  at  a glance.) 

Il  has  generally  been  thought  best  that  medicines  and  medical 
attendance  should  be  free  gifts  to  the  people,  to  avoid  the  possi- 
bility of  having  a mercenary  motive  ascribed  to  the  medical  mis- 
sionary. All  are  allowed  to  accept  presents  offered  in  gratitude 
for  benefits  received,  but  these  must  be  turned  into  the  treasury 
of  the  mission  for  the  use  of  its  medical  department.  In  some 
sections  the  gift  of  living  animals  is  considered  more  valuable 
than  silver  or  gold  as  an  evidence  of  the  appreciation  of  a favor. 
Dr.  Virginia  Murdock  said,  “ The  poor  give  of  their  poverty, 
the  rich  of  their  plenty ; but  both  give  as  little  as  they  can,  and 
value  the  foreign  physician  not  only  for  his  superior  skill  but 
because  they  can  get  their  treatment  and  medicine  without 
paying  for  them.” 

Medical  missionaries  are  most  valued  by  the  native  Christians, 
by  those  who  have  been  restored  to  health,  and  by  those  who 
have  witnessed  cures  of  diseases  that  were  incurable  by  native 
medical  skill  or  processes. 

While  patients  and  their  friends  who  accompany  them  are 
waiting  in  the  dispensaries  for  medical  attention,  all  are  taught 
Bible  truths  by  a competent  teacher  or  bible-woman,  or  a native 
Christian  preacher.  Thus  the  sick  are  healed  and  the  poor  have 
the  gospel  preached  unto  them.  How  much  they  need  it  may 
be  gathered  from  the  following  quotation  from  Dr.  McCartee’s 
reply  to  the  3rd  question.  “ I judge  the  mortality  to  be  great 
(of  lying-in  women)  because  of  the  great  quantity  of  locks  of 
women’s  hair  I have  seen  in  certain  temples.  According  to  the 
Buddists’  belief,  women  who  die  in  parturition  or  within  the 
month,  go  to  the  hell  called  the  Bloody  Lake,  and  can  only 
get  their  heads  above  the  surface  when  certain  bells  in  certain 
Buddists’  temples  are  tolled.  On  these  occasions  every  one  of 
these  women,  a lock  of  whose  hair  is  fastened  inside  of  the  bell, 
has  her  head  raised  up  for  a short  time  above  the  surface  of  the 
Bloody  Lake.  Of  course,  the  bouzes  make  their  friends  pay  well 
for  this  privilege.” 

July,  1884. 


M.  H.  S. 


4 


App'mt 

Medical  Mis.^ionaries. 

Medical  Alma  >Lvter. 

1869 

Dr.  Clara  A.  Swain, 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania, 

187:1 

“ Nannie  Monelle — Hansell, 

“ “ “ of  N.  Y.  Infirmary, 

1873 

“ Lucinda  L.Coinbs-Strittmater 

“ “ « of  Pennsylvania, 

1874 

“ Letitia  Mason — Quine, 

“ “ “ of  Chicago, 

1874 

“ Anna  J.  Lore — McGrew, 

Michigan  Univei-sity, 

1874 

“ SigoiHiiev  Trask, 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  N.  Y.  Infinnarj", 

1876 

“ Lncilla  H.  Green — Cheney,  * 

“ “ “ of  Pennsylvania. 

1877 

“ Leonora  Howard, 

Michigan  LTniversity, 

1878 

“ Henrietta  B.  Woolston, 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania, 

1878 

“ Julia  A.  SpaiT, 

Michigan  University, 

1879 

“ Kate  E.  Bushnell. 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Chicago. 

1880 

“ Ella  Gilchrist,  * 

u u c;  u a 

1882 

“ Estella  Aker. 

u u ((  ((  a 

188:1 

Laura  Hyde, 

n ((  ((  a (( 

1883 

“ Florence  N.  Hainisfar, 

1883 

“ Catharine  Cory, 

Michigan  University, 

1883 

“ Anna  Jones — Thoburn, 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania, 

1883 

“ S.  K.  Cummings. 

“ “ “ of  Chicago, 

1884 

“ Hoag, 

1884 

“ Man"  Christianej", 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania. 

1884 

Mildred  Philips, 

iC  ((  ((  u u 

All  the  above  were  supported  by  the  W.  F.  M.  S.  of  the  M.  E. 


rO-OPEKATIXG  WITH  THE  AMERICAN  BOARD 


1871 

Dr.  Marv  L.  Wadsworth. 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania, 

1873 

“ Sarah  F.  Norris, 

“ “ “ of  New  England,  § 

1876 

“ Emma  Ogden, 

“ “ • “ of  Pennsvlvania, 

1881 

“ Mary  A.  Holbrook, 

Michigan  University, 

1881 

“ Virginia  C.  Murdock, 

VNDER  THE  CARE  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  FOREIGN 


1872  Dr.  P.  A.  Brink. 

1874  *•  Sara  C.  Seward. 

1877  “ S.  .1.  Andei-son, 

1878  >■  A.  D.  Kelsey, 

1882  MaiT  E.  Niles. 

1884  ‘‘  .Jessie  E.  Bell,  A.  B.. 

1884  “ Mary  H.  Fulton.  M.  S 


1870  Dr.  Ellen  E.  Mitchell. 

1879  “ Caroline  H.  Daniels. 

188:1  Maria  Collins — Dongl 
1884  “ Mary  L.  Van  Meter. 

1884  “ Ruth  McCown, 

I NDEK  THE  WOMAN'S  UNION  MISSION.\RT 
187-  Dr.  .Sara  C.  Seward,  W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania. 

1871  “ Mary  F.  Seelye,  * “ ‘‘  “ “ 

188:1  “ M.  Elizabeth  Reifsnyder.  “ “ “ “ *• 

188:1  |Dr.  Anna  L.  Kngler.  |W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania. 

1884  Dr.  Sarah  L.  Weintianb.  W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania. 

18.S4  “ M.  Helen  Thompson,  “ “ “ “ “ 


Ml'S.  Lozier's  School, 

W.  Med.  Col.  of  Pennsylvania, 

“ of  N.  Y.  Infinnarj-, 


i<  <«  U 


“ of  Pennsylvania, 


as. 


UNDER  THE  CARE  OF  THE  WOMAN’S 

Uv.  Med.  Col.  of  N.  T.  Infinnarj". 
“ “ of  Cleveland,  O., 

“ ‘‘  “ of  Pennsylvania. 


* Beceasofl  ; ^lergeil  into  the  linston  I'niversity. 


Fokmek  Rf:sii>kn(’e. 


Post  OFFirr.  Address. 


Bareilly,  India, 
Lucknow,  India, 

Peking,  China, 

Kill  Kiang,  China, 
Moradabad,  India, 
Foochow,  (;iiina, 
Bareilly,  India. 
Peking,*China, 
Moradabad,  India. 
Foochow,  China, 

Kill  Kiang,  China. 

((  ((  U 

Tientsin,  China, 
Bareilly,  India, 
Hakodati,  China, 
Foochow,  “ 

Calcutta,  India, 
Kanayawa,\.Tapan, 

Under  ap.for  Chin  Kiang, 
Under  appointment, 

t«  <( 


BiiA.vrirES  Supported  By. 


New  England, 
New  Y'ork, 
Philadelphia. 
Cincinnati, 
New  York, 

New  England, 
Northwestern, 
Philadelphia. 
Northwestern, 


New  England. 
New  Y"ork. 
Western, 

New  York, 
Parent  Society. 
Northwestern, 


,M.  E.  Church,  South, 


I 

Castile,  N.  Y"ork. 

U U 

Casenovia,  N.  Y. 
Nonnal,  Illinois, 
i Auburn,  N.  Y'ork. 
jSpring  Creek,  Pa. 
jPennington,  N.  .1. 
Canada. 

!Mount  Holly,  N.  .1 
I M unde,  Indiana. 
;Evanston,  Illinois. 
Chicago,  “ 
Bath,  Maine. 
Clifton  Spr’gs,Y.Y' 
'Oswego,  Kansas. 

, Michigan. 

Kingston,  Ohio. 


, Michigan. 

iCalifornia,  Mo. 


Church. — Those  now  in  the  work  or  on  leave  of  absence  still  are. 


OF  rOMMIS.SIOXER.S  FOR  FOREIGN  MIS.SIONS. 


Constantinople, 

Bombay,  India, 

Sbolopoor,  India, 

Tungchow, China, Peking  P.O., 
Kalgan,  China, 


|Now  wife  of  Dr.  John  Bas- 
j sian  of  Broosa,  Turkey, 
jBerkshire  Co.,  Br.  Mass., 
iNorfolk  and  Pilgi-im, 

|W.  Bd.  of  M.  of  the  Interior, 


Hendiker,  N.  H. 
Plymouth,  N.  H. 
Pittsburg,  Penna. 
E.  Abington,  Mass. 
Zanesville,  Ohio. 


MISSION.®  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


Futtehgurh,  India. 

Allahabad,  India. 

Chefoo,  China. 

Tungchow,  “ 

Nanking,  “ 

Under  appointment  for  China, 

((  «(  ti 

1 

Lacked  a propi-r  spirit," 

Was  received  fi-om  W.  U.  M.  S. 
Health  failed, 

Ret’nd  in  1881-health  impair’d 

1 

Ret’ned  to  U.  S.  ’74 
Auburn,  N.  Y. 

tc 

9 

Saltsburg,  Penna. 
Ashland,  Ohio. 

BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MI.SSIONARY  .SOCIETY. 

Maulmain,  Br.  Bunnah.  j 

Swatow,  China,  1 ; 

Ragoon,  Bunnah,  j 1 

Under  appointment.  j j 

Under  appointment  for  China, [Baptist  Church,  South,  | 

Bunnah. 

Gordonsville,  Ya. 

SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA  FOR  HEATHEN  BANDS. 

Transfrd  to  Presby. Bd.  in  1S7J  : 

(Calcutta,  India,  Died  June  0,  187.5,  aged  28  yrs. 

Shangbai,  China,  j 1 

Cleveland,  Ohio. 
Liverpool,  Penna. 

Ountoor,  India,  | 

Damascus,  Syi  ia, 

Under  appointment  for  China,| 

Lutheran  Church,  | 

Episcopal  fnnirch. 

Ardmore,  Penna. 

.lerus’lm, Palestine. 
Zanesville,  Ohio. 

P.  S. — Pr.  FIor#»nce  X.  Haniisfar  scradnated  froDi  “ School  of  ^Icdiciiie  Boston  University.” 


